Beginner
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Lobelia cardinalis 'Black Truffle' (Cardinal flower 'Black Truffle')
Comment on a listing
Plant supplier links
- Login to upload a photo
1 hour care
per year
per year
1.2m
Max height
Max height
0.9m
Max spread
Max spread
2-5 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Lobelia cardinalis 'Black Truffle'
Other names
Cardinal flower 'Black Truffle', Scarlet lobelia 'Black Truffle'
Genus
Lobelia Lobelia
Variety or Cultivar
'Black Truffle' _ 'Black Truffle' is an erect, clump-forming, herbaceous perennial with lance-shaped, toothed, glossy, maroon leaves, darker in spring, and upright racemes of two-lipped, tubular, bright red flowers in late summer and autumn.
Lobelia cardinalis 'Black Truffle' is: Deciduous
Habit
Erect, Clump-forming
Flower
Bright-red in Summer; Bright-red in Autumn
Foliage
Flushed black, Maroon in Spring; Maroon in Summer; Maroon in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Slugs Slugs
Crown rot , Virus Crown rot , Virus
General care
Pruning
Cut down faded flower spikes in autumn.
Propagation methods
Division
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Lobelia cardinalis 'Black Truffle' (Cardinal flower 'Black Truffle') will reach a height of 1.2m and a spread of 0.9m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
City, Cottage/Informal, Beds and borders, Containers, Bog garden
Cultivation
Plant in deep, fertile, reliably moist soil such as a bog garden in full sun or partial shade. Protect with a dry winter mulch. This plant can be short-lived.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Boggy damp conditions, Moist but well-drained, Moisture-retentive
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Tender in frost (H3)
Companion plants
Botanical name
Lobelia cardinalis 'Black Truffle'
Other names
Cardinal flower 'Black Truffle', Scarlet lobelia 'Black Truffle'
Genus
Lobelia Lobelia
Variety or Cultivar
'Black Truffle' _ 'Black Truffle' is an erect, clump-forming, herbaceous perennial with lance-shaped, toothed, glossy, maroon leaves, darker in spring, and upright racemes of two-lipped, tubular, bright red flowers in late summer and autumn.
Native to
Garden origin
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Erect, Clump-forming
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
Bright-red in Summer; Bright-red in Autumn
Foliage
Flushed black, Maroon in Spring; Maroon in Summer; Maroon in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Specific diseases
General care
Pruning
Cut down faded flower spikes in autumn.
Propagation methods
Division
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Lobelia cardinalis 'Black Truffle' (Cardinal flower 'Black Truffle') will reach a height of 1.2m and a spread of 0.9m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
City, Cottage/Informal, Beds and borders, Containers, Bog garden
Cultivation
Plant in deep, fertile, reliably moist soil such as a bog garden in full sun or partial shade. Protect with a dry winter mulch. This plant can be short-lived.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Boggy damp conditions, Moist but well-drained, Moisture-retentive
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Tender in frost (H3)
USDA zones
Zone 11, Zone 10, Zone 9
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types) | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Boggy damp conditions, Moist but well-drained, Moisture-retentive | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Partial Shade, Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Tender in frost (H3) | Tell us... |
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login